Category Archives: Clark

We drove the family to Idaho Falls last weekend, and (after ditching the kids with Dad, Mom, and Liberty – thanks guys!) we hiked Table Rock with some of the extended Ricks family . What a spectacular hike! We climbed about 4000 ft in 4 miles up the steeper trail, and then meandered through the valley trail on the way back down. Great scenery on both trails.

Of course the highlight of the climb is supposed to be the view of the Grand Teton from the top of Table Rock, but that will have to wait until next summer.

NOT because I didn’t make it to the top, I DID, in the midst of a raging blizzard. Obviously though, there wasn’t much of a view. Oh well, next time.

This is Table Rock BEFORE the blizzard!

We stopped for lunch at the tree line on the way down – We were freezing!

The storm swirled around us, sometimes snowing, other times the sun would break through, but it was cold!

Our life saver came in the form of my always prepared husband. In the twinkle of an eye he had a nice cozy fire burning.

I found these in the garage today. Let’s see. Four packages, each containing 3 lbs or about 10,000 bees, that’s around 40,000 bees all together! Better stay away if you don’t like bees. These packaged bees come from pollinating the Almond crop in California. Each package has 3lbs of bees, a can of sugar water to feed them during transport, and a Queen bee in her own little cage. Clark’s job is to move the bees from the package to their new hive.

When working with bees, the first thing to do is suit up. If this is not done properly, bad things can happen (just ask Clark). This is the rule unless you are a photographer, in which case the bees will leave you alone. – They like getting their pictures taken. 🙂

After suiting up, Clark takes out the queen cage and replace the cork with a marshmallow. The worker bees will get to know the queen while they eat through the marshmallow, and when it’s gone, the queen will come out and start laying eggs.

Clark puts the queen into the hive, sprays the package with sugar water to keep the bees busy eating and then shakes the package into the hive with the queen. He puts the cover on and leaves the package nearby so the slowpokes can join their friends in the hive.